News Analysis India

Tag: Lok Sabha Elections 2024

  • Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Responds To PM Modi’s Health Concerns, Says ‘I’m Perfectly Fine’ |

    A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to form a panel to probe the “sudden” deterioration of Naveen Patnaik’s health, the Odisha Chief Minister on Thursday said that he is “perfectly fine”. Biju Janta Dal (BJD) supremo dismissed the “concerns” expressed by PM Modi and said that he has been actively campaigning in the State for the last month. The Prime Minister on Wednesday claimed a “conspiracy” behind Patnaik’s failing health. PM Modi also said that a full majority government would be formed at the Centre for the third time in a row after a five-decade gap.

    In an interview with news agency ANI aired on Thursday, Patnaik said that if the PM was so concerned about his health, he would have called him and inquired about his health instead of stating it loudly at a public meeting.

    “If the Prime Minister was so concerned about my health, even recently, he said that I’m a good friend of his; all he needed was to pick up the telephone and inquire about my health instead of stating it loudly at a public meeting three times yesterday. My health is perfectly fine. As you can see, I’ve been campaigning for the last month all over the state,” the Odisha CM said.

    #WATCH | On PM Modi’s statement ‘if BJP comes to power in Odisha, a special committee will be formed to investigate Naveen Babu’s deteriorating health’, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik says “All I have to say is that if PM Modi is so concerned about my health, all he needed was to pick… pic.twitter.com/OkmHdZ1Lrq
    — ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2024

    “And instead of the Prime Minister just picking up the telephone and asking me about my health, he has stated it loudly at a public meeting. This means that all he’s trying to do is garner votes during election time,” he said.

    Addressing a poll rally in Baripada for the Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha segment, which goes to vote on June 1, PM Modi said there is a “conspiracy” behind Naveen Patnaik’s sudden deterioration of health and that he would form a committee to look into the Chief Minister’s medical history.
     
    Patnaik claimed that rumours about his health have been spread by BJP leaders for the past decade, and that he has no health issues.
     
    “This rumour has been spread by BJP members in Delhi for the past ten years, with little effect on me. And that is basically all I have to say about it. I have no health problems at all. I am in excellent health. I repeat: I’ve been campaigning for the last month in a very hot season, and I’m fine,” the BJD leader said.
     
    When asked about a viral video showing visible tremors in Patanik’s hand during an election rally, the Odisha chief minister responded, “It’s not a medical condition at all. A visiting BJP chief minister exaggerated the situation for no apparent reason.

  • ‘Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne’, Devendra Fadnavis mocks Rahul Gandhi’s claims of INDIA bloc forming govt on June 4 – The Economic Times Video

    Varanasi (UP): While reacting to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s claims of INDIA bloc forming government on June 4, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis called such claims ‘Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne’. He said, “When I was a child, there used to be a serial called ‘Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne’. Like Mungerilal, Rahul Gandhi can also dream. He can dream till June 4 and even become the President of the US. People are with PM Modi.”

  • Lalu Yadav on what to expect on June 4: 'Modi gaye ab …'

    Lalu Yadav on what to expect on June 4: 'Modi gaye ab …'

  • Odisha’s Political Puzzle: Who Will Lead BJD After Naveen Patnaik? |

    The Biju Janata Dal’s reliance on 77-year-old Naveen Patnaik in Odisha presents a significant opening for the BJP. Amidst the fervor of the 2024 Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly elections, BJP leaders have stirred a fresh political discourse, questioning Patnaik’s 24-year tenure, his age, health, activism, and potential successors.

    In Odisha, voting is underway for both the 147 assembly seats and 21 Lok Sabha seats simultaneously. Naveen Patnaik’s personal charisma stands as a major asset for BJD amidst the extensive elections spanning four phases between May 13 and June 1. His bid for a historic sixth term as Chief Minister looms large. However, the looming question remains: who will succeed Patnaik? By introducing this uncertainty, the BJP has injected a new dynamic into Odisha’s political landscape.

    VK Pandian’s Non-Oriya Background Poses A Significant Challenge For BJD’s Continuity

    In response to such uncertainties, citizens in markets like Kadligarh in Sambalpur district express support for Naveen Babu but are uncertain about his successor. When asked about his longtime associate VK Pandian, concerns arise due to his non-Oriya background. These responses underscore Odisha’s current political trajectory and future challenges. Both the ruling BJD, under Naveen Patnaik’s 24-year stewardship, and the opposition BJP must confront this reality.

    BJP Struggles to Present a Viable Alternative to Naveen Patnaik

    Meanwhile, the BJP, having entered the campaign arena late after failed alliance talks with BJD, struggles to identify a figure in Odisha who can credibly challenge Naveen Patnaik’s dominance. Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three visits to the state since the election announcement, the party has yet to showcase a clear leader or leadership group in Odisha.

    Patnaik Government’s Policies Mirror Modi Government’s Approach

    Similar to the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, Naveen Patnaik’s administration in Odisha has maintained a strong hold on the women’s vote bank through empowerment and welfare initiatives. Significant budget allocations have been directed towards healthcare, education, self-reliance, and justice. At the BJD’s silver jubilee celebrations in December 2022, Patnaik emphasized that the party’s longevity hinges on prioritizing women’s empowerment.

    BJD’s Commitment To Women’s Empowerment and Representation

    During the 16th Lok Sabha in 2014, BJD MPs rallied support from other political factions for the Women’s Reservation Bill. The party has continued this momentum by fielding 33 percent women candidates in both the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Patnaik’s personal appeal remains a potent political asset, bolstered by his anti-corruption stance.

    Naveen Patnaik’s Embrace Of Oriya Identity And Aspiration

    In response to BJP’s challenges, Naveen Patnaik has championed Odia aspirations and identity. Despite his accidental entry into politics, Patnaik, educated at Doon School and St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, acknowledges Odisha’s unique linguistic heritage as the first linguistically defined state. Unlike many regional leaders, Patnaik has refrained from expanding his party beyond state borders.

  • Lok Sabha Elections 2024: MS Dhoni casts his vote in Ranchi, crowd loses control – WATCH | Cricket News

    Former India skipper MS Dhoni cast his vote during the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha Election 2024 in Ranchi on Saturday. Recently, Dhoni took part in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 with Chennai Super Kings (CSK). However, Dhoni’s CSK failed to qualify for the knockout stage of the 17th season of IPL after conceding a 27-run loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

    Earlier in the day, former India cricketers Gautam Gambhir and Kapil Dev, and fomer grappler Babita Phogat cast their votes in their respective constituencies. (Blame Game In Rajasthan Royals Camp After Defeat Against Sunrisers Hyderabad In IPL 2024 Qualifier 2, Captain Sanju Samson Says THIS)

    Voting for the sixth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections began early in the morning on Saturday across 58 parliamentary constituencies spread over six states and two Union Territories (UTs) amid tight security and arrangements. The voting started at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm, with those in line by the closing time still allowed to vote.

    Look at the crowds when MS Dhoni came to cast his vote in Ranchi.

    Dhoni is an emotion for fans… pic.twitter.com/dFkWdTzJf5 Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) May 25, 2024

    The seven parliamentary constituencies in Delhi are Chandni Chowk, East Delhi, New Delhi, North East Delhi, North West Delhi, South Delhi, and West Delhi. Over 11.13 crore voters will be exercising their franchise in the sixth phase of the general elections to decide the fate of 889 candidates including two former Chief Ministers – Manohar Lal Khattar contesting as the BJP candidate from Karnal and Mehbooba Mufti, the PDP nominee from Anantnag- Rajouri.

    A total of 20,031 polling stations have been set up in the state. These include 19,812 permanent and 219 auxiliary polling stations. 5,470 polling stations have been set up in urban areas and 14,342 polling stations have been set up in rural areas.

    Over 11.13 crore voters will be exercising their franchise in the sixth phase of the general elections to decide the fate of 889 candidates including two former Chief Ministers – Manohar Lal Khattar contesting as the BJP candidate from Karnal and Mehbooba Mufti, the PDP nominee from Anantnag-Rajouri.

    The sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls includes eight seats in Bihar, all 10 seats in Haryana, one seat in Jammu and Kashmir, four in Jharkhand, all seven seats in Delhi, six in Odisha, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, and eight in West Bengal.

  • Lok Sabha Polls 2024: ‘TMC workers drove BJP polling agent away from booth’, claims BJP’s Agnimitra Paul – The Economic Times Video

    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha candidate from Medinipur Agnimitra Paul on Saturday, accused the West Bengal Police of arresting several of the party’s polling agents and the ruling party driving one of the polling agents away from the booth on voting day. “They (TMC) have removed our polling agent. The TMC kidnapped him and took him away. When I received the information I came here. He was crying here. I have taken him inside and made him sit,” Paul said speaking to on Saturday.

  • Lok Sabha Elections Phase 6: Voting underway for 58 seats; EAM Jaishankar, Hardeep Singh Puri among early voters – The Economic Times Video

    Voting for the sixth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections began on Saturday morning across 58 parliamentary constituencies spread over six states and two Union Territories (UTs) amid tight security and arrangements. The voting started at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm, with those in line by the closing time still allowed to vote.

  • Will Modi Return As Prime Minister For Third Time? US Political Scientist Makes Shocking Poll Prediction |

    The Lok Sabha elections are just two weeks away from culmination and the anticipations are already high with both the BJP and the Congress claiming to have gained majority in the first five phases. While the BJP claimed to have crossed 300 seats so far, the Congress claimed that the BJP may not win more than 150 seats and the INDIA bloc will form a government when the results are announced early next month. Amid these claims by both alliances, a US-based political research analyst has made a shocking claim about the Indian Parliamentary poll results, which will be out on June 4.

    Global political risk consultant Ian Bremmer claimed that the BJP may win 305 (+/-10) seats. Bremmer, founder of the Eurasia Group, told NDTV that his firm’s research shows that the BJP may win 295-315 seats. Talking about the general elections, Bremmer made a big remark saying that only the Indian parliamentary polls currently look consistent and stable given the global uncertainties including the US and the UK elections.

    The BJP led by Narendra Modi had won 282 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls while it increased its seat tally to 303 in the 2019 polls. Narendra Modi has set a target of 370 seats for the BJP and over 400 for the NDA bloc. On the other hand, Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi predicted less than 200 seats for the NDA.

    The Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases and so far, 428 seats out of the 543 have gone to the polls. Voting for the 115 seats will be held in the next two phases while the counting of votes will be held on June 4. Besides the Parliamentary polls, assembly elections for two states – Odisha and Andhra Pradesh – were also held and their results will be announced along with the Lok Sabha polls.

  • EC Orders Action Against Andhra MLA Caught Damaging EVM On Camera |

    CCTV footage of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s party MLA damaging an electronic voting machine (EVM) in the Macherla assembly constituency has emerged, prompting the Election Commission to order the Andhra Pradesh police chief to take strict criminal action against the ruling YSRC MLA.  

    The video that surfaced pertains to the May 13 elections, during which seven EVMs were reportedly damaged in the Macherla constituency. Among them was the machine at booth number 202, where local MLA P Ramakrishna Reddy is accused of vandalising an EVM.  

    #BreakingNews : आंध्र प्रदेश में EVM तोड़ने पर चुनाव आयोग सख्त, विधायक के खिलाफ कार्रवाई का निर्देश#EVM #AndhraPradesh #Election2024 #Politics | @supreetanchor pic.twitter.com/bW8un7Y3L3


    — Zee News (@ZeeNews) May 22, 2024

    According to a report by PTI citing a statement from Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mukesh Kumar Meena’s office, “In Macherla Assembly Constituency, EVMs were damaged in seven polling stations, including the PS no (polling station number) 202 where this incident of damage of EVM by the sitting MLA P Ramakrishna Reddy was recorded in the web camera.” The comment came late on Tuesday.  

    The statement also mentioned that the name of the MLA (P Ramakrishna Reddy) has been included as an accused during the investigation.  

    To aid in the ongoing probe, Palnadu district’s election officials provided footage of the VVPAT vandalism incident. Taking a firm stance on the matter, the election commission instructed the CEO to notify DGP Harish Kumar Gupta to take strict criminal action against all individuals involved.  

    The southern state of Andhra Pradesh conducted the Lok Sabha elections and Assembly polls on the same day (May 13). Following which, several reports of violence have emerged from various locations in the state, including Palnadu, Tirupati, and Anantapur. 

  • Tripura CM Manik Saha in West Bengal: 'Public done with TMC’s poor policies, corruption…'

    Tripura CM Manik Saha in West Bengal: 'Public done with TMC’s poor policies, corruption…'